In the pre-playoffs of the Alps Hockey League, three teams are already under a lot of pressure on Thursday. After their opening defeats, EC Bregenzerwald, Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel and Rittner Buam SkyAlps must win in order to prevent an early end to the season. There are also two games in the Master Round on the program. The direct duel between the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and HC Migross Asiago is about second place.
EC Bregenzerwald lost game one of the “best-of-3” pre-playoff series at HC Meran/o Pircher 2:4. This means that the Vorarlbergers have to win in front of their home crowd on Thursday in order to remain in the race for the quarter-finals. However, this will be a difficult undertaking because Meran has won all of the last five games. In Bregenzerwald, however, the South Tyroleans have been waiting for a victory since December 26, 2023 – the equivalent of three defeats in a row.
Val Gardena wants to fix the next round in Kitzbühel
HC Gherdeina valgardena.it also started the pre-playoffs with a home win. This was clearly against Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel (7:2). The Tyroleans have to recover quickly after the clear defeat because they need a home win on Thursday to prevent an early end to the season. So far this season they have won both home games against the South Tyroleans, scoring six goals each (6:5/OT, 6:2).
Cortina with home advantage and series lead
SG Cortina Hafro was the only team to win its away game at the start of the pre-playoff and now has the chance to make it to the next round in front of their home crowd. The success at the Rittner Buam SkyAlps was hard fought and in the end it was extremely close (3:2). In the fourth duel of the season it was already the third win for Cortina.
Juniors against Asiago for second place in the Master Round
In the Master Round there will be a direct duel for second place between the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and HC Migross Asiago on the penultimate matchday. Salzburg are currently only one point ahead of the Italians. Asiago narrowly won the first meeting in the Master Round 2-1. In the regular round, however, the juniors had the upper hand in two of the three matches. On Tuesday, Salzburg lost 3-1 in the derby in Zell am See, while Asiago celebrated a 7-4 away win in Sisak.
Sterzing decides Master Round against Sisak
In the second game of the Master Round, the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan meet the KHL Sisak. For the home team from Vipiteno it is the eighth and final appearance in the second round. The bottom team in the table has only managed to win one game so far – in Sisak, of all places, 6-5 after a penalty shootout. The Croatians are fifth, three points ahead of the Broncos. If the South Tyroleans win on Thursday after regular time, they would overtake Sisak. However, Sisak will face Asiago on Saturday. The Croatians are currently in poor form: they recently suffered five defeats in a row and have so far only won one game in the second round.
Alps Hockey League:
Thu, March 5, 2026:
Master Round:
7:15 p.m.: Red Bull Hockey Juniors – HC Migross Asiago
Referees: HUBER R., WINKLER, Strimitzer, Veselka
8:00 p.m.: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – KHL Sisak
Referees: BENVEGNU, LAZZERI, Abeltino, Brondi
Pre-Playoffs:
7:30 p.m.: Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: OREL, PINIE, Fecchio, Usurer
7:30 p.m.: EC Bregenzerwald – HC Meran/o Pircher
Referees: HOLZER, MOSCHEN, Dummermuth-Haas, Ilmer
8:30 p.m.: SG Cortina Hafro – Rittner Buam SkyAlps
Referees: PIRAS, VIRTA, Brondi, Grisenti
All games will be broadcast live on Valcome.TV.
alps.hockey , Image: KEC_Burgschweiger
